Table 2 Description of the Normal weight and Underweight groups

Boys/girls (N)

365/319

94/75

0.598^a

Country: Ghana/South Africa (N)

327/357

121/48

< 0.001^a

Age (years, mean (SD); range)

9.2 (1.8); 5.9–12.9

9.5 (1.7); 5.8–12.9

0.037^b

Height (cm, mean (SD); range)

133.8 (11.9); 107–167

134.5 (11.6); 111–185

0.466^b

Weight (kg, mean (SD); range)

29.69 (7.25); 16.2–56.7

24.75 (5.24); 11.6–41.1

< 0.001^b

BMI (kg/m², mean (SD); range)

16.32 (1.51); 13.89–21.39

13.55 (1.27); 6.00–15.21

< 0.001^b

Waist-to-height ratio (mean (SD); range)

0.445 (0.036); 0.32–0.60

0.418 (0.030); 0.36–0.50

< 0.001^b

Stunting (N)

25

6

0.948^a

 Low

288

81

0.039^a

 Low-middle

281

73

 Middle

52

10

 High

63

5